September 1998: The March

PCF organizes “THE MARCH: Coming Together to Conquer Cancer.” Hundreds of thousands of participants, including representatives from 600 disease organizations, gather on the National Mall and around the country to demand greater research funding.

Later that year, Congress passes legislation that will more than double the NIH budget over the following five years.

Among the day’s leaders who help rally the crowd are a bipartisan coalition from Congress and the Administration led by Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bob Dole. Also participating are public figures such as General Norman Schwarzkopf, singers Aretha Franklin and Graham Nash, film executives Sherry Lansing and Sidney Kimmel, and patient advocates and government agency leaders.

The legislation that follows not only doubles the NIH budget, but it also triples the budgets of the National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation. By 2016, these increases represent more than a $220 million incremental increase over 1998 levels.

As impressive as the budget numbers are, they pale compared with the other payoffs: scientific breakthroughs that continue to deliver treatments that save, improve and extend lives everywhere.

Photos: Al Gore rallies the crowd at the March; Mike Milken and former Senator Bob Dole confer backstage.